By Mimi Chiadikaobi
Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin, The Director –General (DG) National Automotive Design and Development Council,(NADDC) said that there are no discrimination
on Nigerian first policy applicability to local manufactures.
He said that Nigerians with capacity should enjoy the Nigerian first policy of support to her local manufactures as contained in the renewed hope agenda of the President, Sen. Bola Tinubu administration.
Newsmen reports on Friday that Osanipin said during the visit of the Senate Committee on Industry to Chief Innocent Chukwuma , CEO of Innoson group of company at his Industrial Estate, Akwa-Uru,Uru, Umudim, in Nnewi North Local government Area (LGA)of Anambra .
He said that NADDC is a regulatory and supervising body in charge of automobile industry in the country which ensures that every manufactures have a fair play ground for operations.
Osanipin said that Chukwuma complained of not been given fair play ground as some people who brings in full manufactured vehicles into the country gets zero duty and his denied.
He said that it has been observed that he buys flat sheets which comes with duty and that really makes his complain right.
“We are going to look into his complain and ensure that all local manufacturer with capability gets their fair due as the government has mandated.
“The main issue that we have been burdened with is if the government bans fairly used imported vehicles into the country ,will the government have enough capacity to meet the demands of people.
“ We now have seen that Innoson company need to be supported like others because on his own as an individual massive investment is been done he matches the capacity we desire .
“The company has the capacity to make 3000 buses which we do not buy that much ,so the company management needs the encouragement ,we will take the issues of zero duty request up to support the company growth .
“ He also complained of poor low patronage which the senators have addressed having seen that over 7,300 Nigerians are under his employ, he is solving the problem of job creation, a proof of faith in one Nigeria ”,he said.
He said that the company manufactures a compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from carcass to finish only for the machine, iron, rod imported so we need to support him to discourage importers of automotive into the country.
Osanipin said that that Innoson group is building a third project that would be one of the largest assembly plant in Africa where he had a phase for electrical and CNG when completed it will be a new level of investment in automotive.
Newsmen reports that NADDC is the former national automotive council and centre for automotive design and development under federal ministry of industry, trade and investment .
Sen. Francis Fadahunsi , Chairman senate committee on industry ,that lead some committee members to assess the company said that they have gone round all his facilities and commended Innoson industries.
He said that the mission of the committee to Innoson factory is to know how far a local manufactures of various vehicles, local assemblage of various vehicle have gone to meet the cries of the people .
“We have gone round the factory segment by segment in Lagos, Enugu and Anambra and discovered that apart from engine, rod, iron that all production materials are local content.
“This is what is contained in President Tinubu’s renewed agenda to enhance the standard of good living of the people.
“We want to know how the government will support him to continue to help Nigerian masses through attracting Bank of Industry to support him serve the needs of Nigerians.
“We are happy in what we have seen on ground, setting up huge factory in a obscured place with local content, fabricated material just to serve the public,”he said.
We do not want to use our scarce resources to feed the foreigners anymore we want to encourage our own local manufactures who uses local materials,” he said.
Fadahunsi said that they observed that Innoson uses a lot of generator to power his industries which makes products that serves the poor and the rich in the society.
He said that efforts would be made by the committee to enact a law to ban fairly used cars to encourage the sale of locally made vehicles which is usage friendly.
Fadahunsi advised South-East governors to patronise their brother then the federal government as a team work in development partnership will also come in to support the Innoson factories.
Sen. Binos Yaroe, member of the committee, representing Adamawa South senatorial districts under the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) said that their is need for leadership by example where government buys made in Nigeria vehicles.
He said that it is not enough for the government to say buy local vehicles but if the government buys Innoson vehicles it will build the peoples confidence
The law marker said that federal government need to lead by example to support Innoson vehicles by directing all the ministers, senators to buy the vehicle then made in Nigeria vehicles will be possible
Yaroe recalled that Nigeria was littered with cement from outside Nigeria over 5 years back but the moment Aliko Dangote joined the cement business and got government backing Nigeria now started exporting cement.
“If Innoson gets government backing Nigerian vehicle will be possible, let the leadership lead by example and see local manufactures content thrive within and outside Nigeria,” Yaroe said.
Sen. Victor Umeh, member of the committee, from Anambra, representing Anambra Central senatorial district, said that what Innoson is doing is massive as he has helped to contribute to job creation in the country.
Umeh said that the committee is on ground to see things by themselves in a view of recommending to the government on the need to support Innoson company being number one indigenous vehicles manufacture.
He said that despite the high cost of production at this harsh economic time efforts are engaged to produce mass transportation at cheaper cost to reduce hardship and providing movement of the people
Speaking, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman Innoson factories said that the company deals on motor manufacturing and assemblage in full not assembling the vehicles as some people think.
Chukwuma disclosed that the company produces their carcass full which show 60 per cent of the production of their vehicles.
He called on the government at all levels to support their efforts through patronage from Nigerians which will improve the economy of the country also make the business to grow more.
“The production capacity will grow greater and we will develop more to carry out various productions that will blow the economy,” Chukwuma appeals.
Some membersof the committee includes Sen. Isa Lau – Vice Chairman, Sen. Ekong Sampson , Sen. Ipalibo Banigo amongst other personalities in attendance.
